Upper Peninsula drug fighters say their hands full

ESCANABA — Illegal use of prescription drugs is a problem in parts of the Upper Peninsula.

The analysis comes from Ron Koski, a leader of the U.P. Substance Enforcement Team, also known as UPSET. The Daily Press says he spoke to community leaders last week in Escanaba.

Koski says drug abusers are buying prescriptions on the street, breaking into homes and "doctor shopping" for multiple prescriptions. He says methamphetamine also has been a challenge for police, especially in Delta, Marquette, Baraga and Gogebic counties.

Koski says 21 meth labs have been discovered this year in a 12-county area covered by the drug enforcement team. He says marijuana is an issue, too, because police don't know if someone is approved to grow it for medical purposes until they get a search warrant.